Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ...at the head of his bed; and Eithne in-gubai (or " the sorrow-ful"), his mistress, at the foot. While they were thus placed, a strange man came into the chamber, and sat on the side of the bed or couch on which Cuchulainn lay. "What has brought you there?" said Conall Cearnach. "Now," said the stranger, "if this man were in health, he would be a protection to all Ulster, and even in the illness and debility in which he lies, he is still a greater consolation to them. I have come to converse with him," said the stranger. "You are welcome then," said the Ultonians. The stranger then stood up, and addressed Cuchulainn in the following stanzas: "O Cuchulainn! in thy illness, Thy stay should not be long; It they were with thee, --and they would come, --The daughters of Aedh Abrat. "Libdn, in the plain of Cruaich, has said--She who sits at the right of Labraid the quick--That it would give heartfelt joy to Fand, To be united to Cuchulainn. "Huppy that day, of a truth, . On which Cuchulainn would reach my land; He should have silver and gold, He should have abundance of wine to drink. "If my friend on this day should be Cuchulainn, the son of SoalU, All that he has seen in his sleep, Shall he obtain without his army. "In the plain of Muirlheimni, here in the south, On the night of Samhuin November eve, without ill luck, From me shall be sent Libdn, O Cuchulainn! to cure thy illness."(l70) This, it will be perceived, was no other than a poetical invitation to Cuchulainn from Aedh Abrat, a great fairy chief, rc(,70 See original in Atlantis, vol. i. p.378. questing him to visit his court, at the approaching November war-I.t. eve, and to take his daughter Fand or Fanri in...
